Story by
Dolphins sign Malik Willis to replace Tua Tagovailoa in free agency
- Story by
- Dolphins sign Malik Willis to replace Tua Tagovailoa in free agency
After spending the first four seasons of his career as a backup quarterback, Malik Willis looks poised to take the starting job.
Willis has agreed to a three-year, $67.5 million contract to join the Miami Dolphins in 2026 NFL free agency, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Willis' deal will come with $45 million in guarantees.
Advertisement
The move comes in the wake of Miami announcing they'll move on from starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the start of the new league year.
Willis earned the lucrative deal after a successful two-year stint as the Green Bay Packers ' backup quarterback. He started three games in relief of Jordan Love , posting a 2-1 record and completing a whopping 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception.
Willis' combination of accuracy and elite-level mobility – he has run for 405 yards and four touchdowns on 74 career carries – helped establish the 26-year-old as one of the the most intriguing running backs available during the 2026 NFL offseason.
The only question surrounding Willis was his small sample size of experience. He only started six games across his time with the Packers and Tennessee Titans , so NFL fans were left wondering whether a team would shell out big bucks to the inexperienced signal-caller.
Advertisement
That said, the Dolphins' brain trust of coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan both worked for the Packers last season. They have strong familiarity with the 2022 third-round pick, which may have played a role in Miami's decision to give him a deal worth $22.5 million in average annual value (AAV).
Willis is anticipated to battle for the team's starting job and will look to prove himself across increased reps with his new club. Here's more to know about his fit with the Dolphins.
Dolphins QB depth chart
Willis currently projects to be the starter for the Dolphins, who are releasing Tua Tagovailoa at the start of the new NFL league year. Below is a look at the team's quarterback depth chart:
Advertisement
Ewers represents Willis' main competition currently on the roster. The 2025 seventh-round pick posted a 1-2 record across three starts last season while completing 66.3% of his passes for 622 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
It isn't yet clear whether the Dolphins will select a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft to compete with Willis for playing time.
Malik Willis contract details
Below are the full details of Willis' contract with the TEAM:
-
Term: 3 years
-
Total value: $67.5 million
-
Average annual value (AAV): $22.5 million
-
Guaranteed money: $45 million
Willis' deal with the Dolphins ranks 21st among NFL quarterbacks in terms of average annual value (AAV), per OverTheCap.com .
Malik Willis stats
Willis has made six starts across his four combined seasons with the Titans and Packers. Here's a full look at his stats since entering the NFL:
Advertisement
-
Record: 3-3
-
Completion %: 67.7
-
Passing yards: 1,322
-
Passing TDs: 6
-
INTs: 3
-
Yards per attempt: 8.5
-
Passer rating: 98.9
-
Carries: 74
-
Rushing yards: 405
-
Rushing TDs: 4
Willis' numbers are strong, but they are also bogged down by his rookie-year struggles with the Titans, during which he completed just 50.8% of his passes and threw three interceptions without logging a touchdown.
Willis' rate stats in Green Bay have been otherworldly: he generated a 134.6 passer rating and 10.9 yards per reception across his 89 career passing attempts for the Packers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Malik Willis signs free agent contract with Dolphins: How does QB fit?
